Night Games

Part III: The Becoming

By Christopher Caldwell

Ash sat on Rena's couch while Rena and Mercutio spoke in low
whispers just outside the door. Ash intuitively knew he was being
whispered about, and occasionally heard snatches of conversation. The
low masculine voice that belonged to Mercutio was clearly heard
saying the word, "special". The higher feminine voice that was
clearly Rena's said something about "Michaels" and "predator". Ash
was somewhat amused by what he felt was the gist of the conversation.
Rena was afraid that he was the same naif that had left Los Angeles
with his heart broken and body bruised. He had learned in the ensuing
years not to be careless with his heart, and knew enough not to
completely trust a man he had just met. Even if that man was gorgeous
and seemed to write in the Muse's own voice. Ash sighed and stretched
languidly, his head hitting the pillow and sleep overtaking him long
before the voices outside quit their murmuring rise and fall.

The next morning Ash awoke to Rena making breakfast in the
kitchen. She was frying something and cursing softly. She noticed the
groggy Ash stirring on the couch and said, "Good morning, sunshine,"
in a low humorless voice. Ash nodded and stretched, then extricated
himself from the blankets and pillows that were wrapped around and
ventured into the kitchen to give Rena a kiss on the cheek.
"Breakfast. How domestic of you, darling. Did Mercutio stay
over?"

Rena's upper lip quirked into half smile as she replied, "No. He
always goes home before dawn. I made us both breakfast before I go to
work. Eggs and bacon."

Ash smiled at Rena and got two plates from the cabinet. Ash choked
down runny eggs and burnt bacon while Rena chattered about something
of no consequence. Ash had several questions to ask about the strange
man he had met the night before, but intuited that this was not the
time for them. Rena poured them both bitter coffee, then whirled out
of the apartment, leaving Ash alone with his thoughts.

Ash stared at the card Alan had given him the night before. He
noticed that there was another number scrawled across the back. He
wondered to himself if calling the next day would seem too eager, too
desperate. Ash decided that because Alan had given him the card while
he was on a date, that perhaps his interest was only platonic and
that it was perfectly acceptable to call a friend the next day. Ash
decided to busy himself with housework and combing through the
classifieds to busy himself until the hour was late enough to
call.

At about 2:30 in the afternoon Ash decided that even the most
blatant of night owls would've woken up, and he began to work up the
courage to call. It took another half hour before he had decided what
he would say, with shaky fingers Ash dialed the number on the back of
the card. The phone rang, and a voice answered, "Michaels' residence.
Richard speaking."

"Oh, Ash," the voice interjected cheerily, "Mr. Michaels left
instructions should you happen to call. It's hard to get in touch
with him during the day, but he seemed very interested in talking to
you. I'm Richard, Alan's personal secretary."

Hope welled in Ash's chest. "Well, uh.. Mr. Michaels told me last
night that maybe we could have dinner or.."

"Dinner? Marvelous. If tonight's fine for you, I can pen you
in."

"Tonight's fine.. I'm not doing any-"

"Tonight it is then. Give me directions and I'll have a car pick
you up at five," the relentlessly cheery voice on the other offered.
Ash gave Richard directions in a shaky voice, wondering if he should
slap himself twice, hard and make sure that this wasn't all a
dream.

Ash spent the next two hours getting ready. Although he wasn't
vain, he wanted to make sure that he looked respectable for his idol.
After checking in the mirror countless times to make sure that not a
hair was out of place, that not a crease was crooked, Ash sat
motionless on the couch and waited for five. At almost precisely
five, the doorbell rang. Ash got up as quickly as he could without
stumbling over his own feet and flung open the door. Standing at the
door was a tall, slender young man with lovely auburn hair that fell
softly over his shoulders. He was nattily dressed in a black
pinstriped suit and a white silk shirt with a band-collar. He looked
at Ash and smiled broadly, "You must be Ash," he stuck out a hand,
"I'm Richard, we chatted on the phone earlier. I was gonna send a
limo for you, but figured I'd pick you up myself, because I'm not
doing anything worth notice."

Ash trudged silently after Richard to his car, which turned out to
be a jazzy red convertible, smiling to himself. If nothing else, he
was sure the night would prove interesting.

Richard drove with the top down, rock music blasting, both their
hair flying in the wind. Every now and then he'd shout a question at
Ash, who would answer in as few words as possible, his heart full of
both terror and glee. Finally, Ash ventured a question, shouting
above the music and wind, "So where are we going?"

"Laguna. There's a restaurant that Alan booked reservations
at."

"Already?"

"Well, actually I booked them this afternoon when you called,
using his name. Mr. Michaels is very well respected in Laguna Beach.
It's a nice spot."

"Oh, Mr. Michaels will probably have already eaten while
conducting business, which means he'll in all likelihood be full by
the time he arrives at the restaurant. It's a nasty habit he has.

"Oh." Ash said, not entirely satisfied.

Richard and Ash drove on the freeways while the sun was setting in
the sky. Sunsets in Los Angeles are so beautiful, Ash reflected,
perhaps it's too make up for the lack of stars. Ash watched the sky
glow rose, gold, purple and red while Richard sang along loudly with
the rock stars on the radio. Not long after blackness swallowed the
sky, Richard exited the freeway and drove through the streets of
Laguna beach, finally stopping before a charming stucco bistro with a
green awning. Richard stopped the car and grinned, "Mr. Michaels
should be along to meet you shortly, I have to attend to some
personal business, have a lovely time."

Ash nodded his thanks at Richard, and turned to walk into the
restaurant. At the front table an elderly man with rosy cheeks and
white hair smiled at Ash, "Welcome to Huang's, do you have a
reservation?"

The Maitre d's eyes widened a little and he smiled broadly, "Ah,
very good sir.. we shall provide our very best table, would you like
a drink from the bar, compliments of the house, while you wait?"

"No thank you," Ash smiled shyly.

"Very good, sir."

Ash was ushered to a table in the far corner that was behind a
large oriental screen. Ash scanned through the menu by the flickering
glow of the candles, and then noticed that there was a window behind
him with a view of the night sea. Ash was looking out into the
blackness of waves when a voice from behind him said, "I was so glad
to hear that you'd called."

Alan was standing behind Ash, looking even lovelier than he had
the night before. He was wearing a cafe-au-lait colored silk shirt
with a mandarin collar and a cream-colored suit. His eyes sparkled,
seeming almost gold in the candlelight. He sat down, reclining with
deceptive grace and turned his lips up in a mysterious, tight-lipped
smile. Ash stared into Alan's large, heavily lashed eyes and nearly
fell in love on the spot.

"First off, I want to apologize for last night. Jaysin behaved
quite rudely."

"Really, there's no need. I understand. If I were dating someone
like you, I'd probably be a little jealous, too," Ash said, somewhat
wistfully.

Alan laughed almost musically, "I'm not dating Jaysin. He was just
my escort for the evening. He's an odd boy. But enough about him, I
want to know about you."

Alan's charm was so disarming that the usually taciturn Ash found
himself nearly monopolizing the conversation, telling things he'd
kept secret even from Rena to a man he barely knew. The evening sped
on, almost as if by magic, Ash barely noticing that he was the only
one who'd had anything to eat or drink. Ash spilling everything to
this beautiful man he'd only met the night before, Ash wondering if
the it was the wine that made him feel so giddy, or the way the
candlelight reflected off of Alan's eyes. After Alan paid the check
(with much protestation from Ash, who'd been the only one to eat
anything), they both strolled along the beach talking of love and
poetry. Alan smiled at Ash while he mused, "It has been my experience
that love is too precious and rare a thing to let go of, even when it
takes you by surprise."

"And has love ever taken you by surprise," Ash said, unusually
brazen.

Alan favored Ash with a long, slow smile, and said in a voice
barely above a whisper, "Oh yes, yes indeed."

The two of them walked along in the moonlight, Ash both dreading
and enjoying the sensations he was feeling. Looking up at the moon
and feeling reflective, Ash sighed, "I've been afraid to really feel
for so long, that just the little things are like magic."

Ash began to cry, but silently and emphatically shook his head.
"No, no.. it's just all so wonderful, I don't know what to
think."

Alan smiled benevolently at Ash and murmured, "We'll take things
slow, I don't want to frighten you away. It's getting cold. I'll take
you home."

Ash mutely nodded and followed Alan back to his car. The car in
this case was another Limo, Alan introduced the driver as Bradley, a
sullen, pasty fellow who seemed devoid of personality. On the ride
back, Alan and Ash chatted pleasantly, not about the nature of life,
but about favorite movies, songs and novels. The ride seemed all too
short to Ash, he was hoping for another kiss, but instead got a
friendly handshake, and a smile. "I hope to see you again, Ash.
Soon."

Ash watched the limo glide back into the night and marched up the
stairs to Rena's apartment, whistling happily. Ash's song caught in
his throat, as he opened the door to find Rena sobbing frantically,
her face bruised.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Mercutio shouted, he strode into
the room, his trenchcoat trailing behind him, eyes wild with
fury.

"I was out on a date, what the fuck business is it of yours? Did
you do this to Rena, if you.."

"You went with Michaels, didn't you? I can smell his stench all
over you," Mercutio's face contorted into a mask of rage. Ash began
to angrily protest when before the the words could form in the back
of his throat, Mercutio's hands lifted him off the floor in one
liquid motion. Ash tried to struggle, but Mercutio's grip was
viselike, inhumanly strong. Ash felt a dizzying sense of vertigo as
Mercutio spun, far too fast for any normal human, and pressed him
against a wall. "I'm not going to let him steal another from me, not
this time," Mercutio growled, baring his teeth ferociously.

"You're mine!" Ash felt a sharpness against his throat, Mercutio's
strong white teeth were tearing into his flesh. There was pain,
sharp, vivid pain, but also a dizzying sensation as his lifeblood
poured into Mercutio's angry awaiting mouth. From beneath a haze, Ash
heard Rena scream, part of his being wanted to fight back, to try to
tear himself away from this maniac, but the feeling of warmth and
lethargy became to powerful to fight, and Ash found himself losing
consciousness. At the edge of blackness, Ash felt something press
against his lips, and allowed them to fall slack and open. He tasted
salt and a metallic, coppery taste shortly before shadow consumed
him. Blackness. Then, through the darkness, Ash heard a female voice,
"My God, what have you done?"